"I can't do it—I can't do it Aurora…" Lily repeated over and over again. She was crouched low on the floor, hugging her knees. She was sitting beside a large barrel in the wine cellar of an ancient castle.

"Get up Lily! You'll ruin your dress—come on—up!" Aurora demanded, stretching out a hand. Lily accepted her hand and stood up, revealing her sparkling white dress. It was made in the style of a medieval princess, with a low-cut square neck, long, sheer white sleeves that became belled at the end. The waist was accentuated with a silky sash. Her red hair was let loose in large wavy curls, held in place at the top by a simple white veil. Her necklace was made of real miniature white lilies, complemented by drop earrings in the shape of lilies. She was a vision in white…not that it was a reflection of her and James' relationship; they had already had s—

"What happened? Why did you run down here Lily?" the new Alice Longbottom had just run into the room, "last I saw was you running down the hall."

"I just can't go through with it—marriage…marriage…" Lily muttered.

"You can keep saying it but it won't get any less scarier," Alice said, folding her arms.

Lily apparently didn't hear, "marriage…I can't…too scared…"

Aurora held her shoulders and looked her in the eyes, "Lily, look it's going to be okay—"

"No!" Lily shouted, and bolted out the door. Aurora left to follow her but Alice held her back. "No, let her be by herself a while…she still has half an hour till the ceremony begins. We'll go find her in fifteen minutes."

Lily ran upstairs, through the long arched hallways and out to the courtyard. A large fountain stood in the middle, surrounded by pink and white flowers and green shrubs. Lily flopped down on the stone bench near the fountain and buried her face into her hands, sobbing.

"Oh…I'm a horrible, horrible person! I'm sitting here crying like a pansy when I should be marrying James Potter….James Potter…James…"

"Yes?" came the voice that made her heart flutter like the wings of a butterfly.

Lily froze, not looking up from her hands. "James where are you?" she asked.

"behind you on the other side of the fountain."

"Turn around!" she yelped.

"What?"

"Turn around! You can't see me before the wedding ceremony! It's bad luck!" she explained.

"Okay…" James said, facing the other way. Lily stood up and peeked between her finger to see if he was. Indeed he did turn around. She slowly stood up and walked up to him so that she was behind him. He looked simply handsome in his black pinstripe tuxedo.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked softly.

"I knew something wasn't right…and I knew you would come to an open air spot…" he answered, "what's the matter? Don't you want to marry me?" he asked, in mock hurt.

"Of course…" Lily said, ever so softly, "But I got…"

"Scared?" James finished for her. Lily nodded and James could understand her silence. He held out his hand behind him and Lily took it in her own. He squeezed it tightly.

"I was too…but then I remembered what I said to you the day we realized that we loved each other—I will never leave you. And I made this promise from the bottom of my heart. I love you Lily Evans…and I don't break promises like that." James took her hand and kissed it softly. Lily sighed deeply and leaned on his back.

"Lily?"

"yes?"

"I have an idea…"

"Oh no James—we're getting married in less than 20 minutes, I cannot do that right now, plus—"

"No not that. Close your eyes and I will too, and then I'll turn around. That way we both won't see each other—okay?" he asked.

Lily seemed suspicious, "okay…."

"Ready?" James asked.

"Ready."

James turned around with his eyes clothes and hers were too. His hands found her face and held them gently. In one swift motion, his lips found hers and they were locked in each other's arms, entwined in the magic of the moment. They didn't need to see each other to know every angle, every curve each other's face. Lily didn't want to leave, and James could not have been happier in that very moment. They parted and James turned around again.

"Lily," he whispered, "if you just felt what I did…then you, too know the reason we are both here today…" and with that, he left. After hearing the footsteps disappear, Lily opened her eyes. A single, glistening tear hung on the bottom of her chin. She knew he was the one.

XxXxXxXxXxX

"Harry James Potter…that's what we'll call him," Lily decided. She placed the bundle of blankets she called her son into his bassinette. She planted a kiss on his forehead softly. His hands were tightly bunched and his eyes were scrunched up but when he opened them, the brightest shade of emerald green peered up at them. James came beside his wife and held her waist. She leaned against his chest.

"I like it…" James said, smiling, "hey, look at his fists—those were made for snitch-catching you know."

Lily rolled her eyes, "oh please…" James held out his finger and little Harry clasped it tightly. His tiny eyelashes fluttered every now and then, as his little chest rose and fell quickly. They stood there and just stared at him, their son.

James spoke as he looked at his tiny tuft of jet black hair and rosy cheeks, "We will always love you Harry…"

"until our dying days…" said Lily…and they did.

The End